Engine starting apparatus



Jan. 19, 1937.

R. M. NARDONE ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 12, 1932 I N V EN TOR. ome M Nard one l A TT Patented Jan. 19, 1937 by mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., 'a corporation of New Jersey Application November 12, i932, serial No. 642,449`

9 Claims. This invention relates to engine starting appa-'- ratus, and more particularly though not exc1u` sively to means of the inertia type for starting internal combustion engines. a

It is now common practice in this art to employ a small high speed flywheel as a reservoir for the storage of energy, and to utilize energy stored therein for starting an internal combustion engine. IDevices of this character have, in certain instances, embodied manually operable means for rotating the flywheel at highspeed',

and havevalso embodied pow r means. suchvas an electric motor, for actuatin ther flywheel.

It is an object of this invention to provide in' a starting mechanism of the above type, novel means for drivably .connecting the-power motor with the flywheel, whereby the latter'may be rotated. I

Another object is to provide a novel automatically operating overrunning clutch mechanism for 'drivably connecting the source of power, such as an electric motor, with a rotatably mounted driven member.

A one-way clutch has been employedv heretofore to drivably connect the motor and flywheel of inertia starters, but in all such prior uses, the clutch has been of the conventional type in which the rollers remain in constant contact with both the inner and outer races of the clutch, even when running freely. If such a conventional overrunning clutch were to beemployed in an inertia starter of the character disclosed inthe Lansing Patent No. 1,691,820, a type extensively used inthe art, diiilculty would be encountered in acciaierating the flywheel through the manual means, and there would be further dimculty in attempting to demesh the engine engaging member in the event of a failure of the engine to start. In inertiastarters of this typendemeshing vis eiiected through the instrumenta it/y of a rod which passes centrally through a scXeW shaft and operates to withdraw such scre'wiVy longitudinally. In the process of such longitudinal withdrawal,v the threads of the screw shaftoperate to impart a rotary movement to the surrounding internally threaded sleeve. This rotary"\movement is in; a direction opposite to the normal direction of cranking. Moreover, this reverse rotation. is transmitted back through the gearing to the ilywheel at a considerably multiplied rate and isA therefore effective to cause a substantial reverserotation of the latter member. Now if a conventional roller clutch were to be employed as the driving connection between the starting motor and the ywheel, any such reverse rotation of the flywheel would cause a jamming or wedging oi' the rollers of the clutch and thus subject the parts to the considerable resistance oiiered by the friction of the brushes and other parts of the motor. This would make it exceedingly difficult, if not virtually impossible, for the operator to effect demeshing through the manually operi able meshing and demeshing rod above referred to. v

'I'he present invention seeks to overcome the foregoing diiiiculties by providing a novel form -of connection characterized by the provision ofmeans permitting the driving rollers to move entirely out of contact with the driven element of the clutch as soon as the driving motor is deenergized. and further characterized by the fact vthat these rollers remain permanently out ofy ,contact with all driven parts during manual operation, so that the ywheel may `run comparatively freely in either direction without encountering any resistance from the motor parts.

Only one embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, but

it is.` to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not designed as a vdefinition of the limits of the invention, referencev being had for this purpos to the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l is a central longitudinal section of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse view showing the element inertia element, and an engine engaging clutch element t which is 'movable into driving engage ment with a corresponding clutch member provided on or connecting with the crankshaft or crankshaft extension of the engine to be started..

The mechanism is housed within a. suitable casing constituted by an. inner section 5, intermediate sections t and l, and a motor casing 8, the

sections being removably secured together in. any suitable manner, and the inner section E being it@ as it appears in section along the plane 2-2 ing of the starter on the engine crankcase, or in any other suitable location.

The manually operable means for actuating the starter preferably takes the form of a cranking shaft I0 rotatably mounted in intermediate housing section 6, with the outer end thereof projecting. from said housing, `and provided at its inner end with suitable means, such as a bevel pinion Il, for meshing engagement with a similar pinion I2 keyed to a shaft I3 constituting an integral extension of the closed endof barrel 30. The said shaft I3 is further provided with a bushing I4 on which is rotatably mounted the hub of an internally toothed gear l5 coaxially disposed with respect to the-flywheel 2, and adapted to mesh with a, pinion |6 made integral with a bell shaped member I1 provided atv its opposite end with a skirt or flange constituting a spur gear I8 adapted to mesh with a pinion I9, the latter being preferably integral with a stub shaft 2|) to which the vflywheel 2 is rigidly secured by suitable means, such as the key shown at 2|.

This stub shaft 20 isrotatably supported, as by ball bearings 22, in a suitable'hub on a wall 23 extending across the section 6 of the starter casing. The bellfshaped member I1 is in turn rotatably supported, as by means of a 'stub shaft 25, bearings 28 and 21, in La. compound b oss 23a' formed on wall 23.

The gear I5 is provided centrally thereof with an integrally formed pinion-50 which constitutes the sun gear for a plurality` of planetary gears 5|, oneof which is shown in section in the drawing, and one in elevation. These planetary gears 5I, of which three are preferably employed, spaced at intervals of one hundred and twenty degrees about the sun gear 58, mesh with an internally toothed ring 52 which is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the inner surface of housing section 5, such as by screws 52a.

Each planetary gear is rotatably mounted, as by a bearing 53, on a sleeve 54, theinner end of each sleeve being countersunk in the outer face of the closed end of barrel 30, into which extend screws 55.' Barrel 30 is also preferably mounted on bearings, as shown at 56 and 51, the former being held in position by flange 58 ofthe barrel, and the latter by nut 59 and spring wire 6| clamped thereto, and also to the barrel as indicated at 62. A retaining ring 66 carried by the outer ends of the screws 55 maintains bearings 53 in their proper positions on sleeves 54.

A multiple disc clutch is preferably provided in association with the barrel 30 to insure relative rotary movement between the engine engaging member and the train of gearing above described, whereby the latter is protected from damage due to an excessive shockor load., As shown, the disc clutch comprises a plurality of inter-leaving discs-19, alternately splined to the inner surface of the barrel 30, and the outer surfaceof a shell 88, internally threaded to engage a correspondingly threaded screw shaft 15, to'be further described. Resilient means, such as a plurality of coiled compression springs 8|,

-tc the arcuate slots.

. provided with a flange 9 to facilitate the mountof metal and is provided with a flange 9| adapted to be clamped between flange 9 of the starter housing, and the engine flange 92. The inner portion of member 891s bent inwardly towardv clutch member 3, as at 93, and is provided with a central opening which is slightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the clutch member 3. y

In order to prevent seepage of oil through the central opening in member 89, the latter preferably carries a washer 94 of leather or equivalent material. Normally the inner portion of Washer 94 is held in engagement with the adjacent surface of the head ofy clutch member 3 by means of a metallic'A washer 95 and a flange 'l sleeve 91. f

Rod |I1 is axially movable through a central bore yin the screw shaft 15 to a limited extent preferably by the means normally employed in inertia starters for actuating the clutch meshing rod. Such means may include the usual shifter fork as shown at ||9 in Fig. 1, mounted on the usual transversely disposed shaft |2| oscillated by a suitable lever or bell crank as indicated at |22, and corresponding to that shown at 55 in the Patent No. 1,786,118 granted to Raymond P. Lansing on December 23, 1930.

The rod is reduced in diameter as indicated at |24 to provide a shoulder abutting the end surface of the screw shaft 15, the rod being effective through the instrumentality of said shoulder to move the'scr'ew shaft axially until further moengaging member through the instrumentality ofv a coiled compression spring-|28 which surrounds the rod I|1 and presses upon the washer |29 abutting the transverse portion |3| of the engine engaging member 3; A nut |32 provides means for' adjusting the connection between the rod I|1 and member 3.

. Having now described the construction of' a. conventional inertia starter of the character to which the present invention is well suited, there remains to be described the novel means for connecting the motor 8 with the flywheel 2. In the form shown, -said means includes a roller clutch wherein rollers |36 are of slightly larger diameter than the retaining pockets `|31 (Fig. 2) the said pockets being formed in an annular cage |38 suitably connected, as by rivets |39 with a plate I4| havingbearing surfaces, as indicated at |42, on n;

the hub of an eccentrically contoured or cammed driving member |44 which is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured, as indicated at |48, to the armature shaft |41 of the motor. A plurality of laterally disposed pins |48 held fast in the driving member |44, are adapted to ride in arcuate pockets in the plate |4I to the extent lpermitted by springs |43, and thus effect limited motion of the cage and rollers with respect to the cam surfaces on the driving member |44. As shown the pins |48 have no angular play whatever with respect to the driving member |44 in which they are held fast; but the said pins do have a certain amount of angular play with respect to the.plate |4 I, due Such relative angular movement is at flrst lightly and then more strongly resisted by the springs |43, the resistance of the springs being insufficient, however, tc prevent wedging of the Arollersy |36 at the commencement of the drive. In moving to the wedgi aoeaeea placing them in condition to subsequently facilimotor brushes and tate a return of the rollers to the over-running position by reason of the expanding action of said springs against the pins |48. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 that the cage is free of the inner circumferential surface of the outer race |49 of the clutch, the latter being screwed or otherwise affixed, as indicated at |59, to the flywheel. A locating pin |5| may first be inserted tc insure proper angular relation of the parts.

In operation, when the motor is energized, the l slight inertiaresistance of ,the cage causes it to lag behind the driving shaft and the rollers |36 are moved radially outward by the cam surfaces to jam between races |41! and |49, and the drive is transmitted to the flywheel. When the motor is deenergized, the flywheel and race |49 run ahead of the roller cage assembly and tend to drag it along, causing the rollers to move relatively to the inclined cam surface and drop into' the deeper portions or'depressions in which the cam surfaces terminate. As a result, contact is lost between race |44 and .race |49. The flywheel may then come to a stop and .reverse its rotation lwithout dragging cage and roller assembly with Smooth engagement is also possible when the motor is accelerated to engage the already rotating flywheel no matter what its speed may be. When the motor arrives at the speed of the flywheel, it begins to drive without anyu'ndue noise or sudden jars.

In the event that manual acceleration of the flywheel is resorted to, it will be unnecessary for the `operator to exert himself to the degree which would be required were the cage or rollers in con stant contact with the surface of the outer race of the clutch, and the process of flywheel acceleration may be carried out without the flywheels being subjectto the resistance inherent in the other friction producing parts.

There is thus disclosed a novel engine starting mechanism embodying the above described features of the present invention and capable of obtaining the above expressed objects. While the embodiment herein shown is of considerable practical merit, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and inter-.relation of the parts entering into the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, the extent of the included va.

riationsbeing ascertainable by reference to the broadest of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In engine starting apparatus of the type having a driven member adapted to mesh with a member of an engine to be started, and embodying a Vhigh speed flywheel, means for driving said flywheel including an electric motor and a one-way clutch engageable to energize. said flywheel, and means for completely disengaging said one-way clutch to prevent any` reverse rotation of said flywheel from-being communicated to said driving shaft.

2. In engine starting apparatus of the type having a'.. driven member adapted to move into mesh with a member of an engine to b started, and embodying a high speed flywheel, means including a gear train for drivably connecting said flywheel and driven member, means for demeshing said driven member in the event of failure of the engine to start, means responsive to demeshing'to reverse 'the direction of rotation of said gear train `and flywheel, means for driving said flywheel including an electric motor and a oneway clutch engageable to energize said flywheel, I

and means for completely disengaging said oneway clutch'to prevent any reverse rotation from said flywheel from being communicated to said driving shaft.

`3. In an engine starter of the type having a driven memberadapted to move into mesh with' a member of an engine to be started and impart rotary movement thereto in the direction in which said engine normally rotates, means for rotating said driving member including a flywheel and torque transmitting connections between said flywheel and driven member, a driving shaft,

driven member'adapted to move into mesh with a member of an engine to be lstarted and impart rotary movement thereto in the direction in which saii engine normally rotates, means for rotating said driven member including a driving shaft and torque transmitting connections between said driving shaft and driven member, a oneway clutchA engageable to energize said torque transmitting connections in response to the initial rotary movement of said driving shaft, and means for completely disengaging said one-way clutch to prevent any reverse rotation of said torque transmitting connections frombeing com.-

municated to said driving shaft.

5. In an engine starter ofthe type having al driven member engageable with a member of the engine to be started to crank the latter, and

' embodying a highspeed flywheel fordrivlng said driven member, said flywheel having an annular extension mounted concentrically thereon,A

means for rotating said flywheel to store energy therein, said means including a driving shaft and a plurality of driving rollers adapted to be wedged against the inner surface of said annular extension in response to the initial rotary movement of said driving shaft, and means for dis-= engaging said rollers from said annular extemvsion to prevent any reverse rotation of the latter from being communicated to said driving shaft.

6. In an engine starter of the type having a driven member adapted to move into mesh with a member of an engine to be started and impart I rotary movement thereto in the direction in which said engine normally rotates, means for rotating said driving member including a flywheel and torque transmitting connections between said flywheel and driven member, means for demeshing said driven member in the event of failure of the engine to start in responseto transmission of torque through said connections, vmeans re sponsive to said demeshing action to reverse the direction of rotation vof said connections and flvwheeLa driving shaft, a one-way clutch en= gageable to energize the flywheel in response to the initial rotary movement of said driving shaft, and means for completely disengaging Said onen way clutch to prevent the above described reverse rotation of the flywheel from beingcom-1 municated to said driving shaft. i

7. In an engine starter of the type having a driven member adapted to move into mesh with a member of an engine to be started, means for I having a plurality of rollers, a driven element rotating said' driving member including a. driving shaft and torque transmitting connections between said driving shaftand driven member, means for demeshing said driven member in the event of failure of the engine to start, means responsive to said demeshing action to reverse the direction of rotation of said torque transmitting connections, a driving shaft, a one-way clutch engageable to energize the torque transmitting connections in response to initial rotary movement of said driving shaft, and 'means for completely disengaging said one-way clutch to prevent any reverse rotation of said torque transmitting connections from being communicated to said driving shaft.

S. 1n a device of the class described, a clutch adapted to coact therewith and an inner race provided with depressions to receive said rollers, a series of cam surfaces on said inner race, said number o' depressions, means responsive to deceleration of said driving shaft to shift said rollers from said surfaces into said depressions, and resilient means acting to facilitate such shift.

-chambers having open opposite sides registerable with the relieved portions of said cam respectively, a roller in each of 'said chambers adapted to extend through the open sides thereof and wedge between said cam surfaces and the wall of said bore for yestablishing a one-way drive between said members, said rollers having a substantially loose fit in said chambers and being partially movable throughthe inner open sides thereof intothe relieved portions of said cam when said open sides register with ysaid relieved portions during over-running of said driven member relative to said driving member, and resilient means bearing between said ring and said driving member for simultaneously urging said rollers toward their over-running positions.

RONIEO M. NARDONE. 

